Dana Point Slip and Fall Accident Attorneys

Slips and falls may not look as serious as collisions or mechanical failures, but the consequences can be just as devastating. From brain trauma to spine injuries, victims often experience serious complications after a fall. If you were injured on someone else’s property, it may be in your best interests to speak to our Dana Point slip and fall attorneys. We may be able to assist by investigating the circumstances surrounding your case, preparing your claim, and representing you during proceedings. To find out more about our legal services, dial 1-800-GO-HARRIS.

How Can I Strengthen My Personal Injury Claim?

A competent personal injury attorney can handle the logistics of your case and represent your interests during settlement negotiations, litigation, and trial. This can give you the space, time, and breathing room to tackle your recovery. However, there are a few ways you can help strengthen your case and mitigate disputes. Below are some steps you may be instructed to take to contribute to your lawyer’s efforts:

• Start a Personal Injury Journal: Creating a detailed account of how your injuries have impacted your everyday life can help your lawyer build a case for non-economic damages such as mental anguish, pain and suffering, and emotional distress.

• Track Your Monetary Damages: In a slip and fall case, you are allowed to pursue compensation for property repairs, medical bills, lost earnings, and other objectively verifiable damages. However, in order to obtain a financial award for such losses, you must first prove that you incurred these costs. As such, you should compile any accident-related invoices, receipts, bills, paystubs, bank statements, and other financial documents to share with your attorney.

• Preserve Your Medical Records: Save all diagnostic images, hospital logs, scripts, psychiatric reports and any other documentation related to your treatment and recovery. These records can help your attorney demonstrate the extent of your injuries and the necessity of the treatments you’ve undergone and/or still require.

• Follow Your Doctor’s Orders: If you went against your healthcare provider’s instructions—by, for instance, returning to work despite being told to rest—and your negligence causes your injuries to worsen or results in other complications, you could be held partially or entirely liable for your damages. In such cases, your settlement or verdict may be reduced to reflect your degree of liability.

How Long Will It Take to Settle My Claim?

As your costs keep adding up, you’re likely eager to find out when you can get your hands on a settlement. However, while you need this money right now, there could be many weeks (or even months) standing between you and your financial award. Here are a few factors that could affect the duration of your personal injury case:

• Extent of Your Injuries: Based on the severity of your injuries it can take weeks, months, or even years for you to reach maximum medical improvement. Your attorney may want to delay proceedings until he or she has had a chance to discuss your future prognosis with your healthcare providers. Without a clear idea of the costs you’re reasonably likely expected to incur, your lawyer will not be able to account for all future damages when estimating your potential recovery. Rushing into negotiations could result in a settlement that falls short of covering your total accident-related expenses if you’re later ambushed by additional costs. As a result, claimants with more serious or permanent injuries will tend to have to wait longer before a settlement is reached.

• Your Own Degree of Liability: If an accident only involves you and another party, determining liability may be relatively straightforward—especially if the other party has admitted fault. However, it’s not uncommon for multiple parties to be involved—particularly in slip and fall cases. If you were injured in a slip and fall incident, you may have to bring a claim against the property owner, the company responsible for maintaining the property, and the negligent employee whose actions or negligence caused you harm. Even once your attorney has investigated the case and identified the liable individuals and entities, it’s likely opposing parties will dispute how liability is apportioned, leading to further delays. If you cannot reach an agreement with the other parties involved, you might need to file a lawsuit which could drag out proceedings.

• Requests for Documentation: To prove liability and damages in a personal injury case, your lawyer may need to procure a range of paperwork to demonstrate the severity of your injuries and the losses you’ve incurred. Medical records, financial documents, and letters from your employer can sometimes take weeks to obtain, and even once they are in your lawyer’s hands, these records may be incomplete and will need to be amended via the proper channels.

Schedule a Free Consultation with Our Dana Point Slip and Fall Accident Attorneys

If you or someone you love was injured in an accident, pick up the phone to speak to our compassionate legal team. We offer tailored representation with the aim of not only helping you achieve a favorable outcome in your case, but also making proceedings as simple and stress-free as possible for you and your family. To schedule a case assessment, dial 1-800-GO-HARRIS or make use of our contact form HERE. Your first consultation is free.